A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 66

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1310

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 66
USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 66

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ville, N. C., where their last battle was fought. Mr. Albright was wounded in the foot at the battle of Bull Run and again in the side at the battle of Gettysburg While in Virginia he was captured, but released by his comrades in a few minutes. His marches covered a dis- tance of 4,000 miles. He was honorably dis- charged at Columbus, Ohio, August 1, 1865: and now receives a pension of $6 per month.

The marriage of Mr. Albright took place in 1872, to Miss Mary E. Shafer, daughter of Jacob H. and Hester A. (Cupp) Shafer, from an old Pennsylvania-Dutch family. No chil- dren have come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Albright, but they have adopted two --- J. W. Holden and Myrtle B. Loffer. In politics Mr. Albright is a republican, and takes an act- ive part in the success of his party. He is progressive in every departinent of citizenship and renowned for his practical benevolence, and holds the respect of his fellow-citizens to the fullest extent.

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ARRISON L. ALLEN, who has car- ried on a prosperous farm of 120 acres in Liberty township, Van Wert county, Ohio, since ISSo, was born in Erie county, Ohio. December 27, IS41. His grandfather, Samuel Allen, was of Scotch de- scent, was born in Connecticut, was reared a farmer, and on reaching man's estate settled near Oriskany Falls, Oneida county, N. Y., where his son Ransom Allen, the father of our subject, was born December 17, 1813. Ran- som Allen there married Laura Reynor, moved to Erie county. Ohio, and was there engaged in farming until his death, which took place in January, 187 ;. his wife dying October 19, the following year.

Harrison L. Allen was born and reared mn Erie county, Ohio, where he attended Mijaa Normal college, after which he taught -chel

OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

two years. April 19, 1861. he enlisted in company E, Seventh Ohio volunteer in- fantry, and saw service in West Virginia, Vir- ginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. At Cedar Mountain he sustained a severe flesh wound in his nether left limb, and at Chancellorsville was captured, but was soon exchanged. In the fight at Ringgold, Ga., Mr. Allen, with his regiment, took a most gal- lant part, thirteen out of fourteen of the officers being killed or wounded, and the slaughter of privates being in proportion. Mr. Allen was also in all the main battles of the famnous At- lanta campaign, and was honorably discharged July 6, 1364. Mr. Allen found an opportunity, however, during the civil struggle, to get mar- ried, which important event took place October 17, 1863, in Erie county, Ohio, to Statira Quayle, daughter of John and Cordelia (Hol- lister) Quayle. Mr. Quayle was a shoemaker by trade, had long been identified with the interests of Erie county, Ohio, and on his farm his death took place in March, 1876. On this property, however, his widow still resides. He was a leading Methodist and in politics was a republican. The family of John and Cordelia (Hollister) Quayle consisted of the following children, named in order of birth: William, Ashley (deceased) Cecilia, Catherine, Sophronia, Statira, John. Charles, Francis and James, the last three deceased.

For the first four years after their marriage Mr. and Mr. Allen lived in Iroquois county. Ill , whence they returned to Erie county, Chio, and then, in 1880, came to Van Wert county and took possession of their present farm, which has since been improved by a farin dwell- ing and a substantial barn. In politics Mr. Allen is a stanch republican, and in 1884 was elected a county commissioner of Van Wert and gave every satisfaction in the preformance of the duties of the office: in 1888 he was ap- pointed to fill a vacancy in the same position.

Mr. Allen is an honored member of the G.A.R. and he and wife are devout members of the Methodist church. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen are named Tad E., Earnest R., Frank and Kittie M .- Earnest R. being a successful school-teacher.

RANCIS M. ALLEN, a successful farmer and well known citizen of Pleasant township, Van Wert county, is a son of Joseph and Nancy J. Allen, natives of Perry county, Ohio. The father was born May 7, 1823, and was de- scended from aa old English family, represent- atives of which settled in Virginia in an early day, and also in Kentucky, of one or the other of which states the subject's grandfather was a native. Grandfather Allen spent his early life in Virginia, and about 1820 emigrated to Ohio, settling in Perry county, where he fol- lowed the occupation of farming, and where he also spent the remainder of his days. He married in Virginia and reared a family of six children, whose names are as follows: George, James, , Joseph, Sarah, Betsy and Eliza

Joseph Allen, father of Francis M., was reared and educated in Perry county, where, early in life. be selected agricultural pursuits as his occupation. He was united in marriage, in March, 1844. to Nancy J. Stultz, daughter of David and Mary (Philson) Stultz, who bore him the following children: Nathaniel S. of Portland, Qre .: Francis M. whose name ap- pears at the head of this sketch; Greenburry W., an attorney of Portland, Ore .; Lydia A .. died in childhood: Mary M. and William F., who, at this time, lives on the old home farm. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Allen lived two years in Perry county, and in 1846 moved to the county of Allen, locating on a farm which he had previously purchased. It is a fact worthy of note that Mr. Allen made his

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

first trip to his purchase in Allen county on foot, and erected a small cabin in a dense for- est for the reception of his young family, which came later. Mr. Allen was a man of great in- dustry, developed a good farm, and was iden- tified with the agricultural interests of Allen county for a period of eighteen years. Desir- ing more territory for his increasing family, Mr. Allen, in 1863, sold his farm and moved to the county of Van Wert and purchased a tract of land in Pleasant township, all but a few acres of which was at that time covered with a native forest. He cleared and improved this place until it ranked among the best cultivated farms in Pleasant township, or Van Wert county, and by successful management suc- ceeded in accumulating a reasonable amount of this world's goods. He was a inember of the Methodist Episcopal church, to the success of which he contributed liberally of his means, and no man in the com- inunity stood higher is the estimation of the people than he. His death, which occurred in December, 1891, was a loss not only to his family and immediate friends, but to the com- munity in which he resided as well.

Mrs. Nancy J. Allen was born February io, 1825, of Dutch-English ancestry, her parents being among the earliest pioneers of Perry county. She was left an orphan at the age of ten years, and afterward made her home with an uncle, George Stultz, until her marriage at the date above mentioned. She is still living, having reached the alloted age of three-score and ten years, possesses, in a reasonable de- gree, her faculties physical and mental, and makes her home with her son on the old home- stead in Pleasant township. She is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has been for many years, and her daily life exemplifies the religion which she pro- fesses.

Francis M. Allen, second son of Joseph

and Nancy J. Alleu, is a native of Allen county, Ohio, and dates his birth from Janu- ary 28, 1848. Like that of the majority of farmer boys his early life was uneventful, and he grew to manhood, assisting his father, and attending in the meantime the common schools of his neighborhood. On attaining his major- ity, he selected agriculture for his occupation and has followed the same with success and financial profit ever since. In October, 1869, he was united in marriage with Mary L. Troup. daughter of Philip and Sarah (Balyeat) Troup. of Van Wert. Mrs. Allen was born September 24, 1851, in Richland county, Ohio, was a true helpmate to her husband, a consistent member of the Baptist church, and died in October, 1875. She was the mother of three children, viz: Ida V., wife Aaron Smith, of Union township; Har- riet A. , deceased ; and Orlin.F. Mr. Allen's second marriage was solemnized, in 1886, with Eliza J. Balyeat, daughter of Aaron and Martha (Larue) Balyeat, the union being blessed with the birth of four children: Lawrence Russell, Francis Larue, Harry Earl, and Marietta. The mother of these children was born in Van Wert county, May 23, 1851. (See sketch of Balyeat family.)

In 1876, Mr. Allen purchased his present beautiful home two miles west of the city of Van Wert. where he is living the life of a suc- cessful and progressive farmer. He takes an active interest in all that pertains to the wel- fare of his community, and it is a compliment well deserved to class him with the represent. ative men of the county of Van Wert. Mrs Allen is an active member of the Baptist church, and with her husband belongs to Pleasant grange, No. 399.

William F. Allen, also a son of Joseph and Nancy J. Allen, was born in Allen county. Ohio, in November, 1860, and received his education in the common schools of the county of Van Wert, which he attended at intervals

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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

during the years of his minority. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, has always followed the farmer's vocation, and now re- sides on the old homestead, which he culti- vates, looking after the interest of his mother in her old age. In March, 1881, he married Harriet Sidel, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Juven) Sidel, and his home is brightened by the presence of three children, Cland W., Perry J. J. and Margaret J. Mrs. Allen was born September 24, 1862. in Fair- field county, Ohio.

B ICHARD ALLINGHAM, JR., a well- known contractor and builder of Van Wert, was born in Lancaster, Fair- field county, Ohio, January 26, 1854. His parents, Richard and Anna (Knight) Allingham, were born in Kent, England. the former of May 15. 1808, and the latter in 1812. They were married in 1830, and came to America in 1810, locating in Lancaster, Ohio, and became the parents of twelve children, all of whom are now deceased, with the exception of our subject, and Frank, a brickmason of Van Wert. Richard, the father, was a nur- seryman, and as such was an assistant at Lan- caster until 1860, when he moved to Camp- bell county, Ky., where he was employed in his calling until 1881, when he had the mis- fortune to lose his eyesight, and made his home with his sons in Van Wert until death. September 15, 1895. In religion he was a Presbyterian, and in politics a republican.

Richard Allingham, Jr., was six years old when the family wend to Kentucky, where he was reared until he reached the age of seven- teen, when he went to Toledo, Ohio, where. for some time, he worked as a brickmason; later he worked at his trade in Defiance, Ohio, and at Portland and at Fort Wayne, Ind. in June, 1874, he came to Van Wert, and here

he has since been engaged at his trade and in successfully contracting and building until the present time' August 3, 1882, he married, in Van Wert, Miss Sarah O'Day, who was born in Fayette county, Ohio, June 4, 1858, and is a daughter of James and Nancy (Beatty) O'Day, also natives of this state. The fruit of this union has been five children, viz: Will- iam (deceased), Maud, Earl, Richard and Hugh L. Mr. Allingham has made himself very popular since his residence in Van Wert, has built up a good trade, and as a republican has been elected a member of the city council. in which office he is now serving his third term. He is an active member of the Abenaki tribe, No. 77, Improved Order of Red Men. and in religion he and wife are consistent and devoted members of the Lutheran church. He owns a neat residence at the corner of Walut and First streets, and he and family are held in high regard by their neighbors, as well as by the conimunity at large.

ca GILLIAM ALSPACH, one of the well-known citizens and farners of Washington township. Van Wer! county, Ohio, living two miles west from Delphos, in section No. 22, is a native of Ohio, having been born in Marion township, Allen county, June 13, 1851. His parents were Elias and Mary M. (Palmer) Alspach. both natives of America, the father having been born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and the mother in Berkeley county. Virginia. Sebastian Alspach, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was an early set- tler of Ohio. Elias and Mary M. Alspach were married in Perry county, Ohio, and then came to Allen county, and located in Marion town- ship, about one mile from Delphos. In An- gust. 1851, he moved to Washington township. Van Wert county, where he purchasel a

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

quarter of a section of land, the same being the place where our subject now lives, and here lived and followed farming until his death which occurred December 24, 1884, in his sixty-sixth year. His widow is still living, and makes her home with our subject. To these parents eight children have been born, all of whom are now living except next to the eldest. The children were named as follows: Sebastian, now a citizen of Lima; Christian, deceased; Charles, farmer of Washington township, Van Wert county; Christiana, now the wife of G. H. Mallon, of Chicago; Se- repta, now the wife of D. S. Carpenter, a farmer of Washington township; William; Mary E., wife of Louis Irick, of Delphos; Lucy, the wife of A. E. Klinger, of Wood county, Ohio.

William Alspach was reared on the farm in Washington township, attended the district schools, and secured a good education. He remained on the home farm until about a year before his father died, and then moved on fifty acres he had purchased, which adjoined the old farm. After his father's death the home- stead was sold and our subject bought it in, and then moved back upon it and has since resided there and followed farming. He now owns a fine farm of 157 acres in section No. 22, all under fence and all improved.

Mr. Alspach was first married in 1875 to Mary Clark, who was born in Fairfield county. Ohio, and is the daughter of Emanuel Clark. To this union four children were born. as fol- lows: Valerie, Thomas, Earnest, and Fred- ick. His first wife died February 26, : 887. and he next married, November 28. 1888, Mrs. Ella Seitz, to which union two children have been born -- Marion and Loren. Mfr. Alspach has been a leading citizen of this township, and has been quite active. He was for some time engaged in the saw mill and stone-quarry business, but has sold out his

interests. He is a member of the democratic party, and for four years served as trustee of Washington township, making an able officer.

ANIEL ALSPACH, deceased, pa- ternal grandfather of Jeremiah J. and Oliver O. Alspach, was born in -Berks county, Pa., May 15, 1792, and was of German uarentage. At the age of ten years he was brought to Ohio by his par- ents, who located in Fairfield county, and there he learned the carpenter's trade. De- cember 20, 1814, he married Miss Elizabeth Runkle, who was born in Rockingham county, Va., January 11, 1797, of Virginia parentage, but of German descent. Elizabeth was also brought, when young, to Fairfield county, Ohio, by her parents. To the union of Dan- iel and Elizabeth were born fourteen children in the following order. Elizabeth, died in in- fancy; Amos, a retired farmer of Wells connty, Ind .; Jesse, deceased; Abraham B., an old settler of Van Wert county, Ohio: Nancy. widow of Jacob Richmond, of Perry county; Christine, deceased: Moses, deceased; Jere- miah, farmer, of Licking county; Henry K .. farmer of Perry county; DeLeslie, who died in infancy, Samuel, farmer of Perry county; Joel, Reform minister, of Illinois; Sophia, wife of John Castanian, farmer of Wyandot county, and Daniel, who died in infancy. After his marriage Daniel Alspach settled in Jefferson township, Fairfield county, where he followed his trade as carpenter until 1825. when he bought a farm, which he cleared up from the woods and resided on for five years: in 1830 he sold and moved to Perry county, where be bought another farm, and on this he made his home until his death, which occurred April 5. 1839; his widow survived until June 21, 1878, and both were consistent members of the Reform church.

OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

Abraham B. Alspach, one of the old settlers of Ridge township, Van Wert county, and a son of Daniel and Elizabeth Alpach, was born August 28, 1820, in Bloom township, Fairfield county, was reared in Perry county, and June 4, 1846, married Eliza Biemer, a native of the county and of German descent. To this union were born six children, viz: Mary, who died in infancy; Arlo, who died of diphtheria at the age of six years; Clara E., widow of Edward Long and now the wife of John McDonald, a miller of Fairfield county; Viola, wife of William Neel, of Perry county; Mary Eliza, wife of Henry McDonald, a miller of Van Wert, and Daniel H .. a farmer of Van Wert county. After his marriage, Abraham B. Alspach farmed until 1883, when he came to Van Wert county and bought his present home. Here his wife died January 6, 1885, and in March of the same year Mr. Alspach married Mrs. Phebe C. (De- Camp) Melchi, daughter of John and Lydia C. (Williams) DeCamp, natives of New Jersey and of French descent. Mrs. Phebe C. Alspach was born in Van Wert county December 2, 1844, and became the mother of three children by her . first husband-Frances, Charles and John; and of two children by Mr. Alspach- Abraham Guy, now nine years old, and Bessie Caroline, aged seven years.

ENRY ALTHOEN, the leading hard- ware merchant of Willshire, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Bavaria. Germany, June 2, 1839, a son of Philip and Lucetta (Morvilius) Althoen. Philip Althoen, also a native of Bavaria, was a tailor by trade, and carried on an extensive business in his own country. There were born to his marriage two children, Henry and Philipena, of whoin the eldest is our subject. The mother died in her native land, but her father, who had previously crossed the ocean

alone for the purpose of selecting a home in the United States for him and family, was seized with yellow fever and died near New Orleans. Both parents were devoved adher- ents of the Lutheran church.

Henry Althoen, subject of this sketch, at- tended school in his native country until seven- teen years of age, when he came to America, and until- 1865 labored as a mechanic and con- ducted an undertaking business for the purpose of accumulating sufficient money with which to begin his present extensive enterprise, which he established in 1873 He now owns a large brick store-building in Willshire, supplied with one of the largest and most complete lines of hardware in the county; in addition to this store, he has two large warehouses, filled with wagons and agriculture implements, as diver- sified and complete as, his hardware stock. The marriage of Mr. Althoen took place, June 29, 1866, to Miss Anna E., daughter of Phihp Hill, and to this marriage have been born the following children: Lucetta, Otto and Car!, all deceased; Annie, Minnie, Edward (deceased), Loretta M. and Freddie. In politics Mr. Althoen is strongly democratic. He is now filling his second term as township treasurer, has been a councilman fifteen years, and has filled a number of minor offices. He is liberal in his religious views, while his wife is a con- sistent member of the Baptist church, which. as well as the other churches, is freely aided by Mi. Althoen in a pecuniary way. Fraiern- ally, Mr. Althoen is a member of lodge No. 43, A. F. & A. M., and also of the Willshire lodge of the I. O. O. F. His residence is one of the handsomest two-story brick dwellings in Will- shire, and his surroundings, social and do- mestic, are all that man can desire. Mr. Althoen is indeed the "architect of his own fortune, " as he was alone and penniless when reaching Cincinnati on his first coming to this country, and his wealth, now summing ap to

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

$50,000, has all been gained through the ex- ercises of his own sound judgment, and the practice of industry and economy. He is pub- lic-spirited and liberal in all things -- especially in his contributions to all projects conceived and designed for the advancement of the town- ship and connty. As a friend of education he is carnest and sincere, and has seen to it that the members of his own family have had the benefits of all the advantages for instruction available.

O LIVER O. ALSPACH, manager of John H. Kauke's extensive hardware store, on the northeast corner of Main and Washington streets, Van Wert, Ohio, is a native of Perry county, Ohio, was born November 24, 1857, and is a son of Jesse and Eva (Long) Alspach. The father. Jesse Alspach, son of Daniel Alspach, was also a native of Perry county, born in 1813, was a farmer, and died in Thorn township, Perry county, in 1863, the father of five children, viz: Benjamin, Elizabeth, Jeremiah, Allen and Oliver O. The mother of these children died in May, 1874, a member of the German Reform church, to which her husband also belonged.

Oliver O. Alspach remained on the home farm and attended the schools of the county until 1877, and theu passed two years in Dei- aware college; returning to Perry county, he was employed as a clerk in a hardware store in Thornville until June, 1887, when he went to Lima, Ohio, and clerked in the hardware store of W. K. Boone & Co. until February G, 1888, and then came to Van Wert, and for one year was manager for the J. H. Kauke Hardware company; he then served as clerk and book-keeper until the spring of 1892, when he resumed the position of manager of the bus- iness, which covers about $40,000 per annum.

The salesroom and warehouse comprise three floors, and the stock consists chiefly of build- ers' and other heavy hardware, cutlery and glass, and is handled by four salesmen and our subject.

The marriage of Mr. Alspach took place in Perry county, Ohio, October 17, 1882, to Miss Sarah C. Rissler, a native of Fairfield county. Ohio, born September IS, 1864, and a daugh- ter of Thomas J. and Melissa (Martin) Rissier. the fruit of this union being one child-Jesse Raymond-born August 12, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Alspach are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a demo- crat, and fraternally is a commandery Mason. He is also president of the Fraternal Building & Loan association, has charge of a fine farm of 120 acres in Ridge township, and also of the Kauke mansion, and he has in every re- spect shown himself to be worthy of the con- fidence reposed in him.

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ON. HIRAM CLARK GLENN. Ohio has been especially honored in her public men. Not only is this true of the state, but it is a fact worthy of note that each of her several coun- ties has produced citizens whose names have added honor to the communities in which they lived and moved, and given additional laster to Ohio's reputation among her sister states. To this rule the county of Van Wert is no ex- ception, and it is doubtful if any of her citirens have achieved as honorable mention, in public or private life, as the gentleman, a brief epitome of whose life is herewith presented.

Judge Hiram Clark Glenn is descended pa- ternally from Irish ancestry and traces the family history back through several generations to the old country, from which, in an early day. his grandparents, Thomas and Nancy Glenn, emigrated to the United States, settling.

19-20

GEORGIANA C. GLENN.

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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

during the latter part of the seventeenth cen- tury, in Washington county, Pa. Subsequently, about 1805, the family moved further west, locating in Jefferson county, Ohio, where Thomas Glenn purchased land and engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, which vocation he followed until his death, which occurred in the year 1852. He served with distinction in the war of 1812, in the capacity of major, and a son, John Glenn, also participated in the same struggle, both taking an active part in several campaigns. Politically, Thomas Glenn was an ardent whig, and the Presbyterian church represented bis religious creed, with which denomination his wife was also identified. To Thomas and Nancy Glenn were born seven children, whose names are as follows: John, Alexander, James, William, Clark. Nancy and Rebecca, only one of whom, Clark, a farmer, of Knox county, Ill., is living at this time.

William Glenn, the judge's father, grew to manhood in Jefferson county, Ohio, attended the pioneer schools of the neighborhood at intervals during his minority, and remained under the parental roof until his twenty-first year, assisting his father on the farm in the meantime. In 1831, he was united in mar- riage with Priscilla Biddison, daughter of Philip Biddison, of Ohio, and immediately thereafter engaged in farming in Jefferson county, where he continued to reside until his removal, in 1837, to the county of Tuscarawas, locating not far from the town of Lockport. Subsequently, February, 1839, he became a citizen of Van Wert county. settling first in Harrison . township and later. about 1847, moved to a place at this time occupied by a part of the city of Van Wert, where he resided until becoming a resident of the city in 1850.

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 66

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen Number of Pages: 1310

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1310